Page 15 of Revived (Lucky Ones #1)

Chapter eight

Sullivan Byrne

T he final buzzer sounds signaling the end of the game and the Declaration’s victory over the Dolphins.

Of course that isn’t all that it signals.

It also signals Flynn dropping his gloves and decking Drew fucking St. Claire.

Drew and Flynn played together in college and were really good friends, but ever since they started on their respective teams, they’ve been arch enemies.

Not the “we’re enemies on the ice, friends off” kind either.

The true, beat the shit out of each other every game kind.

I’ve asked him about it more times than I can count, but every time he says some version of the same thing.

“He crossed a line.” That could mean a number of things, but none of them are good.

Flynn fights on the ice all of the time, but it never goes beyond that.

Word on the street is that he sent Drew a bag of dicks in the mail earlier this year.

Yeah, you heard that right… A bag of dildos dropped off on his doorstep for his wife to find.

A classic, really, but I try not to encourage him too much.

My brothers and I watch with balled up fists and tight jaws as Drew swings and pops Flynn in the brow.

He must have hit him just right because his skin splits with the impact, and blood drips down his face and onto the ice.

However, Flynn would never let him get the last hit.

As soon as the refs move in, he pulls all of his power and hits St. Claire perfectly, and down he goes… Night night, Drew .

Flynn throws his hands up in surrender now that his opponent is napping on the ice and skates off.

I swear he’s got an extra pep in his step as he makes his way off the ice.

The plan is for him to meet us up here after he gets changed out, but something tells me he’s going to take a while.

His coach is about to light his ass up, and surely the press is going to want a piece of him too.

The ice clears out, but again, it’s going to be a while, and I worked last night, so when my ass meets the theater style recliner and I make myself comfortable, no one bothers me.

I grab my sunglasses from the inside pocket of my suit jacket and put them on so the lights aren’t so sharp, and in no time, I’m out.

That’s the good part about being in my line of work.

I can fall asleep anywhere at any time. Sometimes, these five minute naps are all I get in a shift.

I must sleep for around thirty minutes before being woken up by Flynn.

We shoot the shit with our brothers a little while longer before telling them bye and heading back home.

As Elle and I drive the distance back to Temple Valley in silence, I fight with myself about bringing up the subject of what happened earlier.

I know we said we would talk when we get back, but I’m on the edge of my seat with how thick the tension in this vehicle is.

“So, we should talk about what happened earlier, right?” I ask, my eyes stay glued to the road.

“You mean the kissing and stuff? Or your brothers acting like cavemen at the end of the game?” I catch a ghost of a smile out of my peripheral vision.

“They were just excited about the win, and you know what I mean.” I can’t help but smile.

“You’re going to tell me them yelling and throwing each other around the suite was normal? Kieran almost went through the glass.” She laughs .

“You’re being dramatic. They were fine.” My smile is bright now.

“Okay, fine. I’ll bite. What about what happened earlier?” She’s trying to play coy, but her right hand is spinning a ring on her left, which conveys her nervousness to me.

“Were you comfortable? Was it weird for you? Do you want to do it again? Are we going to do this, for real this time? You know, just the basics.” Sarcasm drips from my voice.

“Uhh– Are you trying to ask me if I want to keep kissing you?... and stuff.” I can hear the smile in her voice. She’s enjoying this a little too much.

“Yeah, I guess.” My hand comes up to the back of my neck and pulls slightly on the small hairs at the back of my head. It’s my tell.

Her hand comes up and gently pulls mine away from my head. She sets our hands in her lap, and when I glance over while taking our exit she beams at me. “I’d love nothing more than to continue what we started tonight–”

“Thank fuck.” I murmur while grasping her upper thigh. Finally.

“Sul… I wasn’t done. I’d love to, but we can’t. We both know what will happen.”

All the excitement that was just zipping through my body deflates in a moment.

“Oh, yeah. Of course. You’re right.” I try to hide my disappointment, but she sees. Of course she does.

“Monster…”

“No, you’re right. I’m good with that.” I know the brush off hurts her, and when I steal my hand back to keep both on the wheel, I know it guts her just as much as it does me.

We drive the rest of the way home in silence.

Not the calming kind we typically have. No, this is awkward and uneasy.

Thankfully, it only takes us five more minutes until I’m in my driveway.

She jumps out without a word as soon as I turn the Bronco off.

She’s retreating like a wounded animal, but I’m not letting tonight end like this.

I get what she’s saying, really I do. The entire world could burn to the ground if we let this happen. On the other hand, it could also be perfect and maybe even stop the flames of dread from licking at our heels. Guess it’s time to find out which it is.

I follow behind her with sure steps. She, on the other hand, is moving with fast steps.

No doubt to go cry in peace. I reach the top of her porch as she’s fumbling with her keys to unlock the door.

I can hear her sniffling as clear as day, and like always, it’s as if someone has slammed a dagger into my lungs.

My hand comes up above her head while I crowd her back. My free hand plucks her keys out of her hand, which causes her to quickly spin so her furious expression burns into my mind.

“I don’t want to talk right now, Sullivan.

I want to go inside, take my last shot, and go to bed.

In that order with no deviation from the plan.

We can talk tomorrow, but tonight I’m done.

I have nothing left for you. I’ve used it all up, put us in jeopardy, and made myself upset in the process.

I want you, Sully. Dammit, I want you more than anyone has ever wanted anyone else since the beginning of time.

But sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes there are just too many factors that work against us.

I’m scared, and I won’t lose someone else because we’re being selfish.

” She’s heaving by the end of her rant. Moisture pools in her eyes, but tears don’t fall. Not yet.

“Just answer me this, Elena. Take away everything else. Our families, our friends, and the life we came from. Strip it all away and leave just a man and a woman, living in a small town making a name for themselves. Just you and me. Who we are at our core. You tell me. If it was just you and I, is it a yes?” I can’t help the way my hands slightly shake to reach out to her or the way my adrenaline spikes.

I’m using every ounce of strength I possess to stay rooted right here.

It seems like forever, but eventually she gives me the smallest nod.

“Then fuck it.” I breathe out as I grip her hip with one hand and fist the back of her hair with the other.

I pull her into me and crash my lips to hers.

She opens up for me instantly. At the same time, her body melts into my hold.

I nibble on her bottom lip before deepening the kiss and stroking my tongue against hers.

My cock stiffens behind the zipper of my jeans.

Pressing our bodies against the closed front door, my hips pin her between me and the wood.

Eventually I break apart from her lips and begin kissing her neck.

She tilts her head and fists my hair. She isn’t pulling away.

No, she’s holding me in place. A soft moan rolls up her chest and echoes throughout the night.

The sound makes me feral. That’s the only logical reason for why I lift her by the backs of her thighs until she links her ankles behind my back and wraps her arms around my shoulders.

“Sully!” She shrieks in surprise, but it’s quickly covered by the loud, carefree laugh she lets out.

“Shh, Boo. You’re going to have the neighbors coming out to catch us.” Her eyes widen before she clamps her lips shut, knowing that if any of the guys come out here, we’ll never hear the end of it. Elle studies my face while I take her keys, and without looking, I unlock her door.

Once we shift inside the house with the door shut and locked, and Elle secured firmly in my arms, she smirks at me. Turning, I press her body once again between me and the door. Her fingers thread into my hair, and she playfully pulls.

“You’ve got me all alone in here, Monster. What are you going to do about it?” For emphasis she rubs her core over the painful bulge in my pants.

That’s it. I’m a goner .

My mouth seals over hers as my hands slide up the back of her thighs, gathering her dress until it’s bunched at her hips.

She breaks our kiss and allows her head to lean back until it gently knocks on the door.

Grabbing her hips in my hands, I help guide her movements until we’re both a panting, turned on mess.

“More– Sully, please.”

Fire licks down my spine. I duck my head and start kissing her hard nipples through the thin fabric of her dress.

She grips my hair and pulls me in closer, but I can tell she still needs more.

Using the door to make sure she’s supported enough, I take my now free hand and skim it up her thigh until my fingertips are teasing the side of her damp panties.

When she doesn’t stop me, I pull back from my assault on her barely covered nipples to take in her face.

She’s fucking stunning. Her pupils are blown wide while her bottom lip is trapped between her teeth.

I see nothing but pure lust and unfiltered beauty.

My fingers push her panties to the side, and while her eyes are on mine, I raise a questioning brow.

She nods enthusiastically, and when I sink one thick finger inside of her, her head tilts up and she releases the sexiest sound that I’ve ever heard.

“More, Sul.” She moans while rocking, searching for more friction.

“I know. I’ve got you, baby girl. Let me take care of you.”

Adding another finger, my thumb begins to play with her clit. It doesn’t take long before I feel her pussy fluttering. She’s right there. I curl my fingers inside of her until I’m stroking that spot inside of her that I know will send her barreling into her release.

Just like I thought, the next thing I know, she’s screaming out her release with my name like a prayer on her perfect lips.

Her body sags into mine with her arms draped over my shoulders and her head tucked into my neck.

I stroke her through her orgasm until she’s lazily pushing my hand away, the sensation being too much .

“I fucking love you, Elle.” I whisper into her hair as I hold her closely.

Her body tenses, and I know I just fucked up. In the next moment she’s wiggling to be put down, and I oblige without hesitation. I know what she’s about to do before she even fully decides. It’s part of being best friends our entire lives. I know her better than she knows herself sometimes.

So when she looks up at me with wide, panicked doe eyes, I’m not surprised.

She does this sometimes too. When things get too raw or she can’t find the words, she freezes.

It’s like she forgets how to talk. She hasn’t always done that, but it’s been long enough that I know that’s what’s happening now.

Bringing my hands up, I cup her face and gently kiss the tip of her nose.

“You’re okay, Boo. We’re just kissin’ and stuff, remember? It doesn’t have to be so intense. I’m sorry, that was too much. Everything else can come later.” I make sure to give her the reassuring smile that I know she craves right now.

“No, Sully, I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t feel— I just…” She trails off just like she always does when whatever has her freezing and zoning out comes up.

She’s not going to tell me until she’s ready, and I’m not going to force her into it.

“Shh, it’s okay baby girl. You willing to kiss me goodnight when I’m not on shift?” I lift my eyebrow in playfulness. The change in subject causes the sweet sound of her giggle to bubble up, and it pulls at my heartstrings while she shakes her head at me like I’m being ridiculous.

“Yeah, I think I can agree to that.” Her eyes shine with a mixture of happiness and shyness .

“Then I’ll wait forever for the heavy stuff. We move this at your pace. I’m not going anywhere. All you have to do is keep kissing me goodnight.”

She presses up on her toes as she wraps her arms around me and pulls my mouth down to meet hers. She kisses me softly before pulling away and pressing another to the corner of my lips.

“Goodnight, Monster.” She teases. We both know I’m not leaving yet, but I’ll play her little game.

“Goodnight, Boo.” I shake my head while smiling. “But seriously, let’s do your shot and go to bed. I’m bone tired.”

“Shit! I completely forgot you got off this morning. I’m so sorry.”

She’s spiraling, so I silence her with a brief kiss. “That’s enough of that. Let me give you your insulin, then let’s go to bed. I’ll try to keep the monsters away.”

She thinks I can keep all her monsters from the past at bay. Only I think that I’m the ‘monster’ that haunts her dreams the most.